The American Deluxe Stratocaster electric guitar maintains its traditional look and feel while introducing upgrades that include three N3 Noiseless single-coil pickups that still produce their revered sparkle and snap and-with noiseless design-no annoying hum.

The S-1 switching system adds additional pickup combinations beyond those provided by a standard five-way switch including new combinations of series and parallel wiring for a dazzling array of tonal choice. The compound radius fretboard that modern guitarists demand ensures strings won't fret out even with extreme bending.

Other improvements include the high-mass tremolo block that increases sustain; locking tuning keys; and a molded case with glass-reinforced latches and TSA locks.

Fender N3 Noiseless pickupsN3 Noiseless pickups deliver the best of yesterday and today, because they deliver landmark vintage Fender tone and response without the hum that can plague single-coil pickups. Using an improved stacked coil-coil design, N3 Noiseless pickups are specially tailored for each Stratocaster and Telecaster pickup position. The insulated metal core of each pickup position type differs in thickness and composition for enhanced tone, and Fender has fine-tuned the sized, shape, and wire gauge of the coils to balance the magnetic responsiveness essential to great tone. N3 pickups represent a welcome return to the warmth and clarity of alnico magnets. An Alnico 5 magnet is used in the bridge position, Alnico 2 in the middle position, and Alnico 3 for the neck position. Check the drop-down menu to the right to select colors and/or other options.

S-1 switch down:Position 1. bridge pickup in series with middle pickupPosition 2. bridge pickup in parallel with special capacitor and in series with middle pickupPosition 3. bridge/middle/neck pickups with neck and bridge pickups in parallel and in series with middle pickupPosition 4. neck pickup in parallel with special capacitor and in series with middle pickupPosition 5. neck pickup in series with middle pickup

FEATURES Body

Body shape: Double cutaway

Body type: Solid body

Body material: Solid wood

Top wood: Not applicable

Body wood: Alder

Body finish: Gloss Urethane

Orientation: Right handed

Neck

Neck shape: C modern

Neck wood: Maple

Joint: Bolt-o

Scale length: 25.5"

Truss rod: Standard

Neck finish: Satin Urethane

Fretboard

Material: Maple

Radius: Compound

Fret size: Medium jumbo

Number of frets: 22

Inlays: Dot

Nut width: 1.687" (42.8mm)

Pickups

Configuration: SSS

Neck: N3 single-coil

Middle: N3 single-coil

Bridge: N3 single-coil

Brand: Fender

Active or passive: Passive

Series or parallel: Series

Piezo: No

Active EQ: No

Special electronics: S-1 switching

Controls

Control layout: Master volume, tone 1, tone 2

Pickup switch: 5-way

Coil tap or split: No

Kill switch: No

Hardware

Bridge type: Tremolo/Vibrato

Bridge design: Synchronized tremolo

Tailpiece: Not applicable

Tuning machines: Locking

Color: Chrome

Other

Number of strings: 6-string

Special features: Pickups

Case: Hardshell case

Accessories: None

Country of origin: United States

Order today and get the Strat that's rooted in the past while racing into the future.

Bought Fender Stratocaster American DeLuxe. Saved an additional 30% by purchasing a Used Condition #2, but instrument appears new, with all case candy and protective clear layer and stickers on pickguard. Set up...Read complete review

Bought Fender Stratocaster American DeLuxe. Saved an additional 30% by purchasing a Used Condition #2, but instrument appears new, with all case candy and protective clear layer and stickers on pickguard. Set up by David Higginbotham at Templar Instrument Repair. He said it had the best finish he had ever seen on a Strat, noiseless pickups have great tone, S-1 switching is very useful,and neck perfect for his hand. Stock aged white hardware matched the aged white pearl pickguard I selected. All this plus locking tuners, tight tremolo arm, and bullet-proof case. Fender and Musician's Friend are a great team. Can not be beat!

VS

Most Liked Negative Review

Where's the Tone?

Like other reviewers, I found the pickups on the deluxe model thin, with no distinctive tone, no matter the witch position and the S-1 switching. For $1500.00 one would think that fender...Read complete review

Like other reviewers, I found the pickups on the deluxe model thin, with no distinctive tone, no matter the witch position and the S-1 switching. For $1500.00 one would think that fender would provide great sounding pickups. Although the guitars is beautifully finished, I for one do not care for the compound radius neck, because it makes barre chords more difficult, going way down the fretboard. further, I never heard anyone complain about note bending on a American Standard Strat, with its 9.5" neck radius. To me the American Standard is what the Strat is all about. Save yourself $500.00 and get one instead.

for the price, the greatest guitar one can buy. The playability is awesome. The neck is smooth, the frets are smooth. The bridge combined with the locking tuning pegs work super well for tuning stability. The tone options on the pick-ups are almost endless due to the s-1 switch. Personally my favorite guitar when playing live, and that's with owning a Gibson ES-339. Give on of these a try!

I looked at several different Stratocasters before finally deciding on the American Deluxe. Fender has done it again with this model! The playability of the maple neck is smooth as butter. The clarity and tone of the N3 pickups are amazing. With the addition of the S1 switch there are an array of sounds for your tonal palette. I also have a SSH Strat, and an Epiphone Les Paul, but the sound from a SSS pickup Stratocaster is truly unique! The sparkle and snap of the pickups are amazing! There is nothing like a USA made Strat! You cannot go wrong with this guitar. I have always wanted a Fender Stratocaster and am very pleased with this model. Time to jam!

I selected the 3-tone sunburst with rosewood fretboard. For the past 6 years I've owned and played Fender maple fretboards, exclusively. I recently rediscovered the rosewood on the C shape neck and had to get it back into my arsenal. The S-1 in this 2014, is different from the S-1 in my primary electric, a 2010 V neck w/maple fretboard. I have all the tone I can use, now. Well built, beautiful, feels good & sounds great! It's everything I asked for. Thanks Fender & Musician's Friend!

Bought Fender Stratocaster American DeLuxe. Saved an additional 30% by purchasing a Used Condition #2, but instrument appears new, with all case candy and protective clear layer and stickers on pickguard. Set up by David Higginbotham at Templar Instrument Repair. He said it had the best finish he had ever seen on a Strat, noiseless pickups have great tone, S-1 switching is very useful,and neck perfect for his hand. Stock aged white hardware matched the aged white pearl pickguard I selected. All this plus locking tuners, tight tremolo arm, and bullet-proof case. Fender and Musician's Friend are a great team. Can not be beat!

I am very skeptical about buying on line because you can't feel playability or quality of the guitar. My Fender American Stratocaster Premium came to me set up and in tune and the finish was perfect. I sold my Stratocaster Custom Shop to buy my new Premium Stratocaster and pocketed the change. This plays and sounds much better than my very expensive Custom Shop and Musicians Friend turns out to have the best pricing on line so they really are my friends.

The compound radius neck is great, and notes bent beyond the 14th fret have great sustain with no buzzing or dead spots.The locking tuners keep this guitar in tune even after aggressive playing and tremolo bar action. The tone is great, and after I dialed in my pick-up height, it sounds as good as my other Strat that has 57/62 pick-ups, but without the hum. The only gripe I have is that the middle pick-up died after about 3 years, and the warranty didn't cover it. Other, than that, I have found this guitar to be well worth the money!

When you play a strat with a decent tube amp, ( I use a Fender Blues Jr. and a small Bugera) you won't have any excuses to not sound good. It's all up to you to play well. I've owned 4 other strats in the past including a 25th anniversary and I enjoyed all of them but this strat has the best action (I've been able to adjust it low), and it looks so sharp with it's amber ash color and white pearloid pickguard. I get compliments often. While I also love playing an Epiphone ES 175 for it's distinctive tone and classic look, this strat is easy on my fingers through 3 or 4 sets and has that wide selection of tones using the different pickup combinations. I had a Squire Tele which is a great guitar for that price but I still felt like I missed having a strat. I got mine used in a store and when I tried it, my knees went weak.

Perfect guitar. N3 pickups have great sound and versatility. Finish on guitar is amazing. Musicians friend was easy to deal and the guitar shipped on time. I am very happy with this guitar. I was looking at Gibson SG, Les Paul's and PRS and feel I made the right choice. I can't imagine someone not being satisfied with this guitar.